Tuesday, December 09

Welcome back to the Guardians Beat newsletter. My name is Tim Stebbins, and 2025 was my first season covering Cleveland for MLB.com.

CLEVELAND -- The Guardians are looking to improve their offensive production next season, and the trade and free-agent markets each are avenues that Cleveland could explore this winter for potential external additions.

Could the Cardinals’ Brendan Donovan be a fit?

Early on in Hot Stove season, the Guardians have been linked to Donovan in reports as a potential trade fit. Coming out of last week’s GM Meetings in Las Vegas, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand noted Donovan is “drawing a lot of interest” on the trade market, and that the Guardians are among several teams believed to be potential landing spots.

Donovan was a first-time All-Star this past season. He will turn 29 on Jan. 16, and he has two years of arbitration-eligibility remaining. Let’s take a look at why he could make sense for Cleveland.

Donovan has a good track record offensively

Let’s start with the obvious. Donovan has consistently been an above-average hitter in the Majors. For a team exploring ways it can improve offensively, he would help.

Over four big league seasons, Donovan has a career .282/.361/.411 slash line with a 117 OPS+ (17 percent above league average). He slashed .287/.353/.422 with a 119 OPS+ in 2025, during which he played 118 games while spending about three weeks on the IL down the stretch due to a left groin strain.

Donovan has hit double-digit homers in each of the past three seasons, including a career-high 14 in 2024. He’s knocked 66 doubles over the past two seasons, including 32 in '25. He’s shown excellent command in the batter’s box, recording a 13.4 percent whiff rate in '25 (95th percentile) and a 13 percent strikeout rate (92nd). He has a solid 9.1 percent walk rate in his career.

Overall, Donovan has a well-rounded profile, and with his track record, would help lengthen the Guardians’ lineup.

Donovan could provide a boost against right-handed pitching

Donovan hits left-handed. Given how the Guardians struggled against southpaws in 2025 (.647 OPS, 27th in MLB), it would make sense if they explored adding a right-handed hitter this winter.

But Cleveland also recorded a .679 OPS against right-handed pitching last season, tied with the Rockies for 27th in MLB. Donovan, meanwhile, hit .315 with an .853 OPS against right-handers last season, and he has a career .293/.373/.439 slash line versus them.

Left-handed hitters Chase DeLauter (the Guardians' No. 2 prospect and No. 58 overall by MLB Pipeline), George Valera and C.J. Kayfus each debuted down the stretch in 2025. With a more extended run in the Majors next season, each could help Cleveland’s offense take a step forward in '26. 

But the Guardians can have the best of both worlds. An addition such as Donovan could complement the young guys on the roster and any contributions they deliver in 2026.

Donovan is versatile defensively

Donovan’s ability to move around the diamond is one of his calling cards. The defensive versatility he offers is also something the Guardians embrace and lean upon within their lineups.

Donovan won the NL Gold Glove Award for utility players as a rookie in 2022. He’s played every position except catcher, center field and pitcher in the big leagues. He has spent the most time at second base (202 career starts; 91 in 2025) and in left field (139, 18).

When imagining Donovan’s potential fit in Cleveland, he could help hold down second base before Travis Bazzana (Guardians No. 1 prospect, No. 17 overall) reaches the Majors, and also bounce to the corner outfield. 

Cleveland's double-play combination of Gabriel Arias at shortstop and Brayan Rocchio at second is sound defensively. But Arias has shown he can play around the infield, and Rocchio is a natural shortstop. 

While Steven Kwan anchored left field last season, the Guardians’ right-field mix was more of a revolving door. DeLauter, Valera and Kayfus each could be options there next season, among a mix that also includes Will Brennan, Nolan Jones, Jhonkensy Noel and Johnathan Rodríguez. 

But Cleveland would have the flexibility to get Donovan out there as well, certainly given DeLauter’s ability to play center and Kayfus’ ability to play first base.

Two key dates on baseball’s offseason calendar loom this week. Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET is the deadline to add players to the 40-man roster to protect them from the Rule 5 Draft. Friday is the deadline to tender contracts to arbitration-eligible players.

The Rule 5 Draft is set for Dec. 10 during the Winter Meetings. Among those on MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 Prospects list for Cleveland, infielder Angel Genao (Guardians No. 3, No. 59 overall) and right-hander Austin Peterson (Guardians No. 30) would be exposed to the Rule 5 if they are not protected.

Guardians players who are eligible for arbitration include outfielders Kwan, Jones and Brennan, catcher/DH David Fry, and relievers Sam Hentges and Matt Festa. Any non-tendered player will become a free agent.

Cleveland's 40-man roster stands at 37 players, so it has some wiggle room for any maneuvering in store this week. 

• Stephen Vogt’s doppelganger is … his new bench coach?! Read more >>

• José Ramírez finished third in AL MVP Award voting, but he joined some great (and Hall of Fame) company by being a finalist for the fourth time. Read more >>

• Ramírez also earned All-MLB First Team honors for the second consecutive year. Read more >>

• A collection of Guardians prospects celebrated winning the 2025 Arizona Fall League championship last week. Read more >>

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